If you are here – someone thinks very highly of you 😉 and because of that we’d like you to join us.
Here’s the 30 second version: We think our Jewish stories are valuable, and losing those is both preventable and far overdue. If you’d like to join us – we just need one thing – audio record a story of yours (or better yet, interview an older relative) and submit it here – we’ll take care of the rest.
Recording a story during your upcoming Passover evening (just turn on your audio recording app and put it on the table) is an ideal place to start.
Here’s the 3 minute version: Feel free to wander the remainder of the site, but here’s your quick-start version of what’s we’re talking about:
This project has been in the works since early 2022 or so. I could dive into the half dozen or so reasons I’ve come back to this idea over time, but essentially it all boils down to this – once we’re gone then our stories, in our own voices, are gone as well. No amount of hoping will:
- …bring back what happened as my grandparents traveled by train from Hungary, through, Italy to board a boat and arrive in Israel in the 50’s.
- …allow my uncle (z”l) to tell his grandchildren about what growing up in newly independent Israel was like (stories I never even thought to ask him about).
- …bring back the audio-tapes my mom and grandmother used to send each other occasionally (instead of always writing letters), that would still have her voice, so that her great grandkids (that she only missed by a few years) could hear her voice.
And every family has some part of their history, their heritage, that disappears every day, with every randomly forgotten incident, and – of course – with every passing.
And so – I (and my co-conspirators) would like to put a stop to that. So we’re collecting your story, cataloging them, putting them online, and sharing them with the world. Record one story, record a hundred – I’ll host them all.
One final common question to be answered – What’s a “jewish story” – any story where your jewishness had an impact on the story:
- Story from Camp Ramah in 6th grade – perfect.
- About your first “real” falafel at the Tachana Merkazit in Tel-Aviv (and your first experience with schug) – A+, 100%
- How your Jewish Day School Little League managed to work around Jewish holidays in the schedule – awesome.
- Family recipes – gimme!
For some samples, be sure to check out the story page.